Let's Go Birding is excited to get folks outside to see all of nature at its finest. Destinations are planned according to the seasons and maximum viewing opportunities for bird species. Trips are organized in various ways including partnering with other organizations and through area festivals and outdoor events. Trips are listed below for your reference. I invite you to join in the adventure and I look forward to meeting you.
Lisa
Trips are designed for the beginning to intermediate adult birders. This non-intimidating group environment provides educational benefits to the birder that is trying to learn habitat variations, migration patterns, species identification and species locations.
Safety - Some people do not feel comfortable birding the open spaces alone. Birding trips provide the opportunity to bird places you have never been to before and with other people that share your interest. Besides, its a lot of fun!
Carpooling - In order to do our part
to lessen environmental impact, Let's Go Birding provides carpooling. Arrangements are made so that drivers are available if you wish to carpool. This means you can bird locations you may not wish to drive to yourself!
Optics - When birding in groups you have a chance to learn about the binocular models and spotting scopes currently available on the market. You can play with other people's optics before you have to make the big decision to upgrade your own birding equipment.
You get out of the house - Everyone has the best of intentions, but often left to our own devices we don't get around to doing some of the things we should. When you sign up for a Let's Go Birding adventure it motivates you to get out the door and enjoy some wildlife!
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 Male Merlin
image by Ron Wolf
Green Winged Teal
image by Garrett Lau
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Saturday, November 14
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
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Birding the San Joaquin County
This trip will be conducted through the Los Gatos Wild Bird Center
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$25
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We'll spend the day visiting several birding hot spots of San Joaquin County. These hot spots are located around Stockton and Lodi and offer prime wintering habitat for Sandhill Cranes, Tundra Swans and waterfowl. Waterfowl arrive by the millions to spend the winter in the farm lands of the Central Valley. We can also find raptors in great numbers on the eastern edge where we'll search for Ferruginous Hawks, Golden Eagles and Merlin. The Sandhill Crane is a Let's Go Birding favorite and their return each fall is a welcome experience. You should expereince them for yourself.
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December 5, 6 Weekend
Anticipated Annual Event!
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Northern Central Valley Weekend Adventure - Birding the wildlife areas of Yolo Bypass, Gray Lodge, Sacramento & Colusa National WIldlife Refuges and more!
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FULL
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This is the 6th annual Let's Go Birding December weekend to go bird a North American winter hot spot! We'll spend two days birding several of the different refuges found throughout Sutter, Colusa, Glenn and Butte Counties. It is here we'll find the millions of waterfowl that come here, many from the Arctic, to spend the winter. All birding levels are welcome with a goal to see some memorable wildlife, learn something new while having a grand adventure. Species we'll experience include Tundra Swans, Greater White Fronted, Snow and Ross's Geese and ducks, ducks and more ducks. In addition to the waterfowl we'll see many other fantastic birds including Bald Eagles, Great Horned Owls, White Faced Ibis and much more. We'll spend the evening in Willows where your hotel room is included in the prcie of the weekend.
Please email to ask questions and to reserve your place. For couples sharing a room = $225. For a single wishing to have their own room = $150. For singles planning to share with another single = $120 each.
Rain does not cancel this trip as it is WATER OFF A DUCK'S BACK!
December 2008 final trip report
December 2007 final trip report
December 2006 final trip report
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Saturday, Jan. 2
7:30 AM - afternoon TBD
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After your New Year's blast - Let's Go Birding celebrates the start of 2010!
Destination to be determined depending on rare bird activity
being reported
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$30
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WHAT IS YOUR NEW YEARS RESOLUTION? Plan to come on out and have a New Year's chase. Let's Go Birding trip destinations are planned months in advance. This means if some exciting bird shows up from out of the area we often don't get to go see it. So this trip is going to be based on whatever rare bird activity is reported days before. We could be going to the Central Valley or to the coast. We'll just have to wait and see what shows-up! For sure it will be a great way to celebrate the start of a new year in nature. This trip is being conducted through Let's Go Birding. To reserve your space please email me at lisa@letsgobirding.com
Final Trip Report ! |
Saturday, January 16
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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Birding the Merced National Wildlife Area
This trip will be conducted through the Los Gatos Wild Bird Center
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FULL
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The Merced National Wildlife Refuge includes 10,262 acres of wetlands, native grasslands, vernal pools, and riparian areas. Established in 1951 to attract wintering waterfowl, this refuge is a winter wonderland for birders. According to refuge manager Richard Albers, " The Refuge plays host to the largest wintering populations of lesser Sandhill cranes & Ross' geese within the Pacific Flyway." Wintering geese and cranes migrate to the area each fall to make the Refuge home for six months. We'll get to compare the Snow Geese from the Ross's Geese and we'll look for blue morphs of each. We will also be able to find many shorebirds and wintering raptors during our day. This is an unforgettable time to visit the Central Valley - please plan to come along.
This trip is being held through the Wild Bird Center of Los Gatos. To sign-up please call the store at 408-358-9453.
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Sat. January 30, 2010
7:30 AM - 6:00 PM
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Panoche Valley - a birding winter hot-spot and a Let's Go Birding favorite!
This trip is being organized by Let's Go Birding.
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$30
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Panoche Valley is a winter hot spot so close to the bay area. This high desert habitat is a must for any birder. Located between Los Banos and the coastal communities south of Hollister, this area has been left almost un- touched from developers allowing for some great habitat in which to find birds we don't often get in the highly populated bay area. Wintering raptors can be found in great numbers as they hunt the open areas for food. Also found this time of year are Mountain Plover, Mountain Bluebirds in addition to the resident Phainopeplas and Roadrunners. We'll also be on the look out for several different owl species often found tucked away in their day roosts. Its also a full moon so who knows what that may mean!
Final Trip Report ! |
Monday nights Feb. 1, 8, 15
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
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Begining Birding Class with a focus on our backyard birds
Class incluydesd three evening lectures and two weekend fierld trips
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This beginning birding class is designed for people who have always wanted to learn about birdwatching and the birds coming to their own yards. No experience necessary! We'll review Field guides, optics, birding ethics, habitats, and even a little taxomony. We have roughly 250 different species of birds right here in Santa Clara County, but we will focus on the birds that we find in our backyards and neighborhoods. This class includes two weekend morning bird walks so we can put our new knowledge into action. All birding levels are welcome. Additional details can be found here - education
This class is conducted through Santa Clara Valley Audubon. For more information please visit their web site
www.scvas.org or call 408-252-3747
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Sat. February 6, 2010
10:00 AM - noon
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February 6 & 7 - 14th Annual San Francisco Fly-Away Festival
Two days of bird events and Bay Area history
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FREE
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The 14th Annual Flyway Festival will take place the first weekend in Febrary. This annual event is filled with guided hikes and outings, tours and workshops on Mare Island. With over 70 events on the schedule you will have many different events to enjoy.
It is a most unique birding festival giving everyone the chance to soak up history on Mare Island and view an amazing array of birdlife all at the same time. For the forth year in a row Let's Go Birding will lead a bird walk throughout the wildlife rich habitat of the Mare Island wetlands. This has always proven to be a popular event for everyone interested in learning more about the bird life found in the area. While spotting species we'll discuss all the aspects of getting into this sport from optics to field guides to clothing and bird identification. The morning walk will be an easy-going adventure and everyone is welcome regardless off experience. Bring your binoculars and scopes or borrow ours while supplied last.
Tell me more ! |
Sat. February 20, 2010
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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TRIP #2 - Birding the Merced National Wildlife Area - TRIP #2
This trip will be conducted through the "Los Gatos Birdwatcher"
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FULL
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Scheduled by popular demand. This trip was planned as a second opportunity to visit the Merced National WIldlife Refuge because the January trip filled so fast. Sign-up before this one fills too. The Merced National Wildlife Refuge includes 10,262 acres of wetlands, native grasslands, vernal pools, and riparian areas. Established in 1951 to attract wintering waterfowl, this refuge is a winter wonderland for birders. According to refuge manager Richard Albers, " The Refuge plays host to the largest wintering populations of lesser Sandhill cranes & Ross' geese within the Pacific Flyway." Wintering geese and cranes migrate to the area each fall to make the Refuge home for six months. We'll get to compare the Snow Geese from the Ross's Geese and we'll look for blue morphs of each. We will also be able to find many shorebirds and wintering raptors during our day. The birds will be starting their migration out of our area. so this is a great chance to see the wintering species before they depart.
This trip is being held through the Wild Bird Center of Los Gatos. To sign-up please call the store at 408-358-9453.
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Sat. March 20, 2010
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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Birding the San Mateo Coast around Half Moon Bay and Wavecrest
This trip will be conducted through the Los Gatos Wild Bird Center
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$25
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A day birding the San Mateo County. March is a month of birding transition as the wintering birds leave for their breeding grounds and the spring arrivals appear. San Mateo county allows for birding in several types of habitats as we bird both the coastal and inlands areas around Half Moon Bay. We'll see birds in their breeding plumages and hear songs from birds that have been silent over the winter. We'll stop in area hot spots like Pillar Point and Wavecrest. Trips fill fast so sign-up soon.
This trip is being held through the Wild Bird Center of Los Gatos. To sign-up please call the store at 408-358-9453.
Tell me more ! |
Saturday, April 3, 2010
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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Santa Clara Valley Audubon's 2010 Spring Birdathon Guided Team event
PERSISTENT PICIDAE'S - Led by Lisa Myers
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$50 MIN
donation
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Its time for the annual fundraiser BIRDATHON for the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society. Let's Go Birding will lead the Persistent Picidae's again this year and all are welcome to join this guided team event. To join the team please register on line directly with SCVAS. http://www.scvas.org/index.php?page=text&id=birdathon_reg
The Picidae's will bird all over Santa Clara County with the goal to find a minimum of a 100 species. To join the team you do have to give a minimum donation of $100.100% of all the money collected for the Picidae's will go directly to the fundraiser.
YOU can also fundraise yourself and use a day with the Picidaes to find the species you need to colect your pledges.
And if you cannot join the team but would like to sponsor the team we welcome any and all pledges donation you can offer.
I guarantee a fun day in the field. All birding skill levels are welcome and I encourage everyone to get outside!
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